The woman at the heart of the Beckham row: How Brooklyn's 'ex' Kim Turnbull and Romeo rekindled their romance – after he claimed Victoria 'repeatedly invited women from my past into our lives in ways that were clearly intended to make us uncomfortable'

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  • READ MORE: Brooklyn Beckham’s bombshell statement in FULL

Brooklyn Beckham’s explosive fall-out with his family turned nuclear on Monday when he released a bombshell statement taking aim at their ‘control’ of him.

But weeks before the drama reached new heights, it was an unlikely figure that was to be at the centre of the drama – his brother Romeo’s girlfriend Kim Turnbull.

The London-based model and DJ rekindled her relationship with the model in October after splitting when Brooklyn’s feud with his parents put strain on their relationship.

At the time of the split, it was alleged that Kim was being used a ‘scapegoat’ in Brooklyn’s row with his parents, following claims she had previously dated the chef.

Brooklyn seemed to allude to his history with Kim, and claims Nicola Peltz felt uncomfortable around her, in his six-page statement lambasting his family.

In it he claimed that his mother Victoria ‘repeatedly invited women from his past into our lives in ways that were clearly intended to make us uncomfortable’.

Romeo Beckham's girlfriend Kim Turnbull found herself at the centre of Brooklyn's fall-out with his famous family, with the DJ splitting from her boyfriend before reuniting earlier this year

Romeo Beckham’s girlfriend Kim Turnbull found herself at the centre of Brooklyn’s fall-out with his famous family, with the DJ splitting from her boyfriend before reuniting earlier this year

Brooklyn alluded to his history with Kim in his bombshell statement on Monday where he claimed his mother Victoria 'repeatedly invited women from his past into their lives'

Brooklyn alluded to his history with Kim in his bombshell statement on Monday where he claimed his mother Victoria ‘repeatedly invited women from his past into their lives’

The row began when Brooklyn and Nicola were notably absent from all the various stages of his father’s 50th birthday parties, fuelling much speculation as to the cause. 

Kim then found herself at the centre of claims she was the reason behind a rift between brothers Brooklyn and Romeo.

She is the well-heeled granddaughter of renowned post-war sculptor and painter William Turnbull, while her father Alex Turnbull and uncle Johnny were part of the post-punk band 23 Skidoo, formed in 1979.

She dated Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s son Rocco, and through that connection was part of a tightknit friendship group in 2016 which included Brooklyn.

Kim and Romeo had begun dating seven months prior to the row, but just three weeks after the birthday party, friends said the romance ‘fizzled out’.

At the time, pals told the Daily Mail that things remained ‘amicable’ between the pair, and that their parting had ‘nothing to do’ with Kim being blamed by Nicola for being the catalyst for the feud that has ripped the Beckham family apart.

The source added: ‘David and Victoria would hate for the view to be that they split because of Nicola and Brooklyn because that simply isn’t the case.

‘The fact is that Kim has got a really busy career as a DJ and Romeo has a busy work life too, there is lots of travelling for both of them and having a relationship at this time isn’t all that conducive to their lives.’

Brooklyn and Kim were close during their teenage years, when the chef was pals with actor Rocco Ritchie (pictured in 2016)

Brooklyn and Kim were close during their teenage years, when the chef was pals with actor Rocco Ritchie (pictured in 2016)

Romeo and Kim rekindled their relationship in October after splitting when Brooklyn's feud with his parents put strain on their relationship

Romeo and Kim rekindled their relationship in October after splitting when Brooklyn’s feud with his parents put strain on their relationship

At the time of the split, it was alleged that Kim was being used a 'scapegoat' in Brooklyn's row with his parents, following claims she had previously dated the chef (pictured with Romeo)

At the time of the split, it was alleged that Kim was being used a ‘scapegoat’ in Brooklyn’s row with his parents, following claims she had previously dated the chef (pictured with Romeo)

It was also alleged that Kim had been ‘thrown to the wolves’ as the reason behind the family row, which was ‘deeply upsetting’ to Brooklyn’s parents and brothers.

US website TMZ wrote at the time: ‘Sources say Brooklyn and Nicola were told to show up to the main celebrations or they wouldn’t get a chance to see the family… leaving the two saddened because they simply won’t be around Brooklyn’s brother Romeo and his girlfriend, Kim Turnbull.’

Sources also told the news outlet that Nicola can’t stand to be in Kim’s company.

Kim had been at the centre of the rift after Nicola claimed that she felt uncomfortable around her, with sources close to the US heiress saying that Kim had dated Brooklyn when they were teenagers. 

Following speculation about her history with Brooklyn, Kim then shared a lengthy statement where she insisted she has only ever had a friendship with the eldest Beckham son. 

Sharing a statement on her Instagram page, she said: ‘I’ve avoided speaking on this topic to prevent adding fuel to the fire, however it’s come to a point where I feel the need to address it so I can move on.

‘I will not continue to receive harassment or be embarrassed on the basis of lies, to fit a certain narrative.

‘I have never been romantically involved in ANY capacity at ANY point with the person in question. 

‘Nothing between us has occurred further than a school friendship at age 16. I would like to remove myself from the ongoing conversation & set the record straight for the sake of everyone involved.’

Soon after Romeo shared a cryptic post about ‘spreading unnecessary lies’.

In October, speculation began that Romeo and Kim had rekindled their romance, after he uncharacteristically ‘liked’ her Instagram post for the first time in six months.

By that point, Kim’s statement had brought an end to speculation that she was involved in Brooklyn’s feud with his family, and the Beckham clan were believed to have accepted their eldest son did not want to see them.

In October the couple were pictured together holding hands, confirming they were back together.

Kim then shared a lengthy statement where she insisted she has only ever had a friendship with the eldest Beckham son

Kim then shared a lengthy statement where she insisted she has only ever had a friendship with the eldest Beckham son 

Brooklyn and Romeo's younger brother Cruz also shut down the gossip when he responded to an Instagram post showing a picture of Romeo and Kim together

Brooklyn and Romeo’s younger brother Cruz also shut down the gossip when he responded to an Instagram post showing a picture of Romeo and Kim together

Read More

Moment David Beckham ignores question about his son Brooklyn’s broadside at his family

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Since then, Romeo and Kim have continued to document their reignited romance, and were last pictured together during a PDA-filled outing in London last week.

Brooklyn took to Instagram on Monday night to share a six-page statement where he said he has no wish to reconcile with his family.

Brooklyn and his wife Nicola have been at the heart of the acrimonious divide that has resulted in them snubbing all significant family celebrations over recent months, including his father David’s milestone 50th birthday and knighthood.

The chef went as far as to say he has been ‘controlled by a family that values public promotion above all else’ and that since being with his wife Nicola, he has found ‘peace and relief’ after battling crippling anxiety.

Brooklyn also claimed Victoria, who has her own fashion brand, cancelled making Nicola’s wedding dress at the ‘eleventh hour’ and hijacked their first dance which left him so ’embarrassed’ they decided to renew their vows without his family last year.

Rumours of tension first emerged after the actress sported a stunning couture Valentino bridal dress, after previous reports she would wear a design from Victoria. 

The Daily Mail has contacted the Beckhams for comment. 

Brooklyn Beckham’s statement in full

I have been silent for years and made every effort to keep these matters private. Unfortunately, my parents and their team have continued to go to the press, leaving me with no choice but to speak for myself and tell the truth about only some of the lies that have been printed.

I do not want to reconcile with my family. I’m not being controlled, I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life. For my entire life, my parents have controlled narratives in the press about our family. The performative social media posts, family events and inauthentic relationships have been a fixture of the life I was born into.

Recently, I have seen with my own eyes the lengths that they’ll go through to place countless lies in the media, mostly at the expense of innocent people, to preserve their own facade. But I believe the truth always comes out.

My parents have been trying endlessly to ruin my relationship since before my wedding, and it hasn’t stopped. My mum cancelled making Nicola’s dress in the eleventh hour despite how excited she was to wear her design, forcing her to urgently find a new dress. 

Weeks before our big day, my parents repeatedly pressured and attempted to bribe me into signing away the rights to my name, which would have affected me, my wife, and our future children.

They were adamant on me signing before my wedding date because then the terms of the deal would be initiated. My holdout affected the payday, and they have never treated me the same since. 

During the wedding planning, my mum went so far as to call me “evil” because Nicola and I chose to include my Nanny Sandra, and Nicola’s Naunni at our table, because they both didn’t have their husbands. Both of our parents had their own tables equally adjacent to ours.

The night before our wedding, members of my family told me that Nicola was “not blood” and “not family.” Since the moment I started standing up for myself with my family, I’ve received endless attacks from my parents, both privately and publicly, that were sent to the press on their orders.

Even my brothers were sent to attack me on social media, before they ultimately blocked me out of nowhere this last Summer. 

My mum hijacked my first dance with my wife, which had been planned weeks in advance to a romantic love song. In front of our 500 wedding guests, Marc Anthony called me to the stage, where in the schedule was planned to be my romantic dance with my wife but instead my mum was waiting to dance with me instead. 

She danced very inappropriately on me in front of everyone. I’ve never felt more uncomfortable or humiliated in my entire life. We wanted to renew our vows so we could create new memories of our wedding day that bring us joy and happiness, not anxiety and embarrassment.

My wife has been consistently disrespected by my family, no matter how hard we’ve tried to come together as one. My mum has repeatedly invited women from my past into our lives in ways that were clearly intended to make us both uncomfortable.

Despite this, we still travelled to London for my dad’s birthday and were rejected for a week as we waited in our hotel room trying to plan quality time with him. He refused all of our attempts, unless it was at his big birthday party with a hundred guests and cameras at every corner.

When he finally agreed to see me, it was under the condition that Nicola wasn’t invited. It was a slap in the face. Later, when my family travelled to LA, they refused to see me at all.

My family values public promotion and endorsements above all else. Brand Beckham comes first. Family “love” is decided by how much you post on social media, or how quickly you drop everything to show up and pose for a family photo opp, even if it’s at the expense of our professional obligations.

We’ve gone out of our way for years to show up and support at every fashion show, every party, and every press activity to show ‘our perfect family.’ But the one time my wife asked for my mum’s support to save displaced dogs during the LA fires, my mum refused.

The narrative that my wife controls me is completely backwards. I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life. I grew up with overwhelming anxiety. For the first time in my life, since stepping away from my family, that anxiety has disappeared.

I wake up every morning grateful for the life I chose, and have found peace and relief. My wife and I do not want a life shaped by image, press, or manipulation. All we want peace, privacy and happiness for us and our future family.




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